Rick Heller helped fix Iowa's infield woes with another key transfer portal addition

Rick Heller's transfer portal magic continues after snagging a talented infielder from the transfer portal.

Iowa's infield depth took a massive hit after last season, losing four key contributors, including Ben Swails (transfer), Caleb Wulf (graduation), Gable Mitchell (graduation), and Kooper Schulte (graduation). Heller and his staff have done good work securing talented transfers to add to the infield, including 1B/OF Sawyer Stein and recently acquired IF Diego Frey.

The infield is starting to round into form, and the program isn't stopping, adding another talented infielder to the mix.

Iowa snagged Southeaster IF Nathan Hopkins from the transfer portal

The transfer portal has been very beneficial for the Iowa program over the past several years, and that continues this offseason with another talented IF transfer heading to Iowas City.

Southeastern transfer Nathan Hopkins is heading to Iowa City after he announced he is joining the Hawkeyes, and he is hoping to take advantage of the new five-year eligibility rule. After spending his first two seasons at Seward County Community College in Kansas, Hopkins is vying for two more seasons of eligibility, instead of just one.

Hopkins guided Southeastern to the NAIA World Series last season, finishing as semifinalists. He was the only player on the Southeastern squad to start all 63 games, and he hit .395 with 20 doubles, five home runs, and 54 RBI, while also adding 25 stolen bases. Hopkins also set an NAIA World Series record by batting .678. After bringing in Hopkins to solidify the middle of the infield, Heller's transfer portal strategy remains clear, and they just found a veteran solution at shortstop.

Hopkins should immediately contribute in his first season with the Hawkeyes

Hopkins is a solid contact hitter with great speed, as showcased by swiping 25 bags last season, nearly double his total from the previous season with Seward County CC (13). He not only brings solid contact skills but also gives Iowa a great option at shortstop, one of the most important positions on the infield. If you have a subpar shortstop, everything else tends to fall apart.

Hopkins gives the program a veteran leader up the middle and a potential top-of-the-lineup bat. There is no guarantee that Hopkins will immediately start, but with very few options up the middle, he has a leg up on winning the job. Luckily for the Hawkeyes, Hopkins chose the program over offers from Alabama State and Louisiana Tech, among others, because Iowa believed in him.

He acknowledged he has some big shoes to fill at either second or shopstop, but he is ready to get to work.

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